There are plenty of ways in which business can have a positive impact on the lives of adolescent girls and young women both through their operations as well as through partnerships with Non-Governmental Organisations that are improving the lives of girls around the world.
Click on each theme to learn more about what NGOs are doing to improve the outlook for girls in those issues.
Studies have found positive returns for businesses that invest in the health of their female employees and go beyond regular health and safety compliance. Access to contraception, abortions, safe births, pre- and post-natal care and basic healthcare information directly relate to women’s productivity in the workplace. Businesses that also strive to address gender-based violence, including harassment and abuse at work, contribute to women’s security both in work and in the community as a whole.
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Education is a key driver of economic and social development. Despite the narrowing gender gap in education in recent years, girls and young women continue to face disadvantages in access to education, especially at secondary and tertiary level. This is particularly prominent in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Reasons for this vary but include restrictive cultural norms, poverty, conflict, pregnancy and early marriage. Understanding the educational indicators of a country will help businesses make meaningful decisions regarding labour force investment and the promotion of female employment.
StatsDigital Opportunity Trust (DOT) delivers leadership, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and innovation skills training through a proven youth-led, peer-to-peer model. DOT also works with schools to leverage ICT in education, and provides education for youth in refugee communities in the Middle East, with a focus on women and girls.
GlobalGirl Media UK (GGM UK) develops the voice and media literacy of teenage girls and young women in under-served communities by teaching them to create and share digital journalism designed to ignite community activism and spark social change. Through mentoring, training and access to a worldwide network of distribution partners, GlobalGirl Media harnesses the power of new digital media to empower young women bringing their often-overlooked perspectives onto the global media stage.
In many countries, women and girls do not have the same rights as men in access to, and control of, property and other assets. Women’s legal capacity is also limited in some countries, where they might need the permission of their husband or another male family member to work, access education or travel. Issues such as these arise due to cultural and religious norms, and the precedence of gender-discriminating customary law. Equal access to and control of assets are critical for women’s empowerment.
As business regulations do not differentiate between genders, responsible companies operating in regions where women cannot hold property rights, or require the permission of a husband or father to work, cannot presuppose that female employees can enter into contracts and move about freely. Understanding the gendered biases of the legal landscape will help businesses to adopt policies that provide for fair and equal treatment for female staff.
StatsResearch continuously demonstrates that economically empowered women and girls create more productive societies. Yet, across the world, women face greater obstacles than men in the labour market. Businesses that encourage women’s participation in the labour force are actively contributing to substantial positive multiplier effects within communities. For example, households in which women have an income usually invest more in the family’s health and educational outcomes.
StatsDigital Opportunity Trust (DOT) delivers leadership, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and innovation skills training through a proven youth-led, peer-to-peer model. DOT develops young women in its network to become role models, trainers, and innovators in their communities, and supports them to devise digitally-enabled solutions to local challenges.
The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women empowers women entrepreneurs in developing and emerging economies. Its programmes offer innovative solutions to the challenges facing women, supporting them to access the skills, technology, networks and financial services they need to establish and grow successful and sustainable businesses. The work of the Foundation is delivered through three core programmes: the Mobile Technology Programme, the Mentoring Women in Business Programme and the Enterprise Development Programme.
The percentage of people living in urban areas is expected to rise in Latin America from 78% in 2014 to 90% by 2050, in Africa from 36% in 2010 to 62% by 2050 and in Asia from 43% in 2010 to 65% by 2050. One in four people in cities live in slum areas, which are growing rapidly. Many girls move in the hope to improve their job and income security as well as their access to education, transport and health services. Some girls also move to escape hardships, including child marriage and poverty. However, migration brings new challenges, including vulnerability to exploitation, water and air pollution, and higher costs of living.
In particular, girls migrating internationally for work face higher risks of exploitation due to language barriers and the lack of a social support network. Understanding the needs of migrant girls will help businesses to capitalise on their skills and minimise the likelihood of association with forced labour and human trafficking.
StatsConflict disproportionately affects women and girls, with rates of sexual and gender-based violence rising dramatically during and following periods of unrest. In some instances, rape is systematically used as a weapon of war. Likewise, social roles change when communities become uprooted during conflicts; women are often left as sole caregivers for children when men are involved in fighting or defending their assets. Conflict can exacerbate women and children’s vulnerability to abuse and exploitation in their efforts to earn a living for their families. Decreased access to healthcare, safe water and educational services further exacerbates their vulnerability. Understanding how women and girls are negatively impacted by conflict and security arrangements is crucial to responsible business operations in emergency contexts. Businesses sourcing from, or operating in, conflict zones may be doing so in regions where the governance is weak or the rule of law is absent. Therefore, responsible businesses may choose to invest in the protection of women and girls in emergency situations.
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